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Number Crunching ?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
SHORAN

SHORAN

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello,

Someone out there will understand these things better than me.... and perhaps could explain if I am doing ok ... or not ?

I saw a specialist and I was told my overall cholesterol level was 4.6, HDL= 1.49, LDL = 2.36, Triglycerides = 1.6

Specialist wanted me to start on Statins !....not sure I particularly want to !


Please advise !

Much appreciated, Thanks.

Shoran.
 
Hi Shoran. Those figures are good. Generally, they try to get all diabetics on statins as we are technically at greater risk of heart disease and strokes, but your levels are within guidelines : -
total cholesterol - under 5.0
HDL - 1.2 mmol +
LDL - 2.0 mmol or less
Trigs - 1.7 mmol or less
total cholesterol to HDL ratio ideally below 4:1
 
Greyhound -

Thank you for that !
So I'm doing Ok then ? that's reassuring !

What are the max levels respectively I should look out for ? HDL, LDL , Trigs etc

What are good numbers , bad numbers ?

Anyone got any views about Statins ?

Thanks a lot,

Shoran
 
This is what you are saying one should aim for ?

HDL - 1.2 mmol +
LDL - 2.0 mmol or less
Trigs - 1.7 mmol or less
total cholesterol to HDL ratio ideally below 4:1
 
A lot of us have views on statins - rather than start an avalanche again, enter the word 'statins' in the search box on here and find some of the relevant threads if you are interested.
 
Hello Jenny,

I get the feeling that the general consensus online is that they are 'bad'- dished out needlessly, excessively... These 'experts' etc want us to be popping these pills, it's better for them - easier to try fix the cholesterol 'problem' medically - reduce it's risk despite the fact that it (supposedly) causes other health side affects / problems (but the specialist / experts don't tell us this ?) of which presumably they can at a later stage 'worry' about and dish out more pills / treatments if need be ? It could simply- be all about big money for the drug companies / govt guidelines / pen pushing - sticking to ratios,quotas etc..... doctors profiting somehow etc.

I can maybe understand Statins being offered if one had a very high cholesterol reading ... but other than that ?.....

I now sound like a crackpot conspiracy theorist ?

There's plenty to read up on the subject- online. I just thought to ask what you readers here thought of them.

After all I consider you all as kind of friends.... ! ( in the kind of 'we are all in this together' sort of way )

So that's my two pence worth.

Shoran
 
I will indeed use the search facility here and look up old threads -
Thanks, good thinking.

Shoran
 
Statins are good for a lot of people but I know 3 people who did not do well on them. They should not be given out to just anyone, for the sake of it. My overall cholesterol at my health check last year was 4.4 and I was not offered them. I am pre-diabetic. I think perhaps the poster is right that if you are diabetic and more at risk of heart attacks and strokes, they may want to give them out more readily..
 
I had the statins discussion with my GP at my last appointment, he was able to pull up a tool on his PC to show my QRISK score (the risk of heart attacks/strokes etc) and change the settings to show the difference between the risk levels if I did/didn't take statins. I found it very helpful (although I had already pretty much made my mind up before the appointment), as I'm an engineer, so I respond better to actual numbers than a vague statement of "it would be better for you if you did take them".
(I decided against them, as I have a number of other health issues which could be aggravated, plus my thyroid is underactive which can mess with cholesterol levels. Once my thyroid dosage is sorted & my levels are stable, if my cholesterol is still high then I'll reconsider).
Mind you, I mentioned statins to my mum a while back, including the fact that some people have memory problems, and her response was that she's on them and hasn't noticed any problems. Then 5 minutes later she couldn't remember how old she's going to be on her birthday later this year!
 
Lurker- thanks for that, yes my 'specialist' did the same thing- pulled up a chart and bamboozled with percentages etc. I wasn't that impressed or convinced....

Funny about your mum.

I have heard that statins can affect your memory. I suspect my pa is a bit like that too, I assume he's on statins ( though I haven't asked !)
 
Mum is 68, with a family history of Alzheimers, so there is a chance it's nothing to do with the statins, just struck me as ironic timing!
Re QRISK percentages, I think there was a 2% decrease if I took them, so my risk dropped from 5% to 3%. For me, the potential benefits didn't outweigh the potential risks at that time, especially since my thyroid meds were changed at the same appointment so if I'd started statins at the same time, how would I know what benefits or side effects were due to the statins and which were due to the thyroid med change?
 
Lurker - I can see where you are coming from.Tricky one, you probably did the right thing ; )

Personally I think if one has a heart problem or maybe extremely high cholesterol then maybe 'yes' it's worth tying statins because like you say for the most part...under normal circumstances / acceptable levels; the potential benefits don't outweigh the potential risks / complications etc

Have a good day,

Shoran
 
SHORAN said:
Greyhound -

Thank you for that !
So I'm doing Ok then ? that's reassuring !

What are the max levels respectively I should look out for ? HDL, LDL , Trigs etc

What are good numbers , bad numbers ?

Anyone got any views about Statins ?

Thanks a lot,

Shoran
Click to expand...
Shoran...the important part is the ratios...often not mentioned by our doctors...I am no medic...however your levels sound ideal...the ratios are all within the normal range...your total cholesterol/HDL is ideal...as is your HDL/LDL ratio...your triglyceride level is not in the optimal range...but still in Normal range...believe its now protocol to routinely ply diabetics with statins...your levels are better than mine...I see my GP on Friday...I know I will be offered statins (again)...however although my overall cholesterol is still in the at risk bracket..it is slightly down....my ratios are all good...two of them optimal...I won't be accepting statins either.
 
Bubbsie,

Mmmmm..... interesting. Ratios !?
I had a quick look about calculating that and I saw this :

To calculate your cholesterol ratio, divide your high-density lipoprotein(HDL, or "good") cholesterol number into your total cholesterol number. An optimal ratio is less than 3.5-to-1. A higher ratio means a higher risk of heart disease. 28 Apr 2015

So for me - using this formula above it's 4.6 divided by 1.49 = 3.0872

Looks ok as my ratio is less than 3.5 to 1 ? ( phew ! )

As for Triglycerides: I read that if it was less than 1.7 that is considered 'normal' - . Mine was 1.66 . You said correctly, mine is 'normal'
What do you consider to be the "optimal" range ?

It's all a learning curve. Bring it on !

Thanks, Shoran.
 
I saw a locum consultant once who said I should definitely be on statins as my total cholesterol was over 4. Apparently they want it under 4.
My GP told me he thought statins were a complete success story and that while he didn't think it was essential for me to take them, I would end up taking them one day!
My usual consultant always looks at the ratio and says I'm fine!
 
My Trigs at last appt were 0,5. DSN said that was optimal.
 
SHORAN said:
Bubbsie,

Mmmmm..... interesting. Ratios !?
I had a quick look about calculating that and I saw this :

To calculate your cholesterol ratio, divide your high-density lipoprotein(HDL, or "good") cholesterol number into your total cholesterol number. An optimal ratio is less than 3.5-to-1. A higher ratio means a higher risk of heart disease. 28 Apr 2015

So for me - using this formula above it's 4.6 divided by 1.49 = 3.0872

Looks ok as my ratio is less than 3.5 to 1 ? ( phew ! )

As for Triglycerides: I read that if it was less than 1.7 that is considered 'normal' - . Mine was 1.66 . You said correctly, mine is 'normal'
What do you consider to be the "optimal" range ?

It's all a learning curve. Bring it on !

Thanks, Shoran.
Click to expand...
You can use this calculator and save yourself the maths!
http://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php
 
Robin - Love the link, very cool. Book marked it.

Nice one - thanks,

Shoran
 
Mark - You have great trigs ! optimal at 0.5 ? I'll make a mental note of that.

Radders - thank's for that snippet. Helps me see a clearer picture of how these specialist think etc

I am learning more and more here, thanks guys for educating me.

Shoran
 
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